Pneumatic or cushion arch support for shoes



Dec. 26, 1944. E. M DlALYNAs y 2,365,807

PNEUMATIC OR CUSHION ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES` Filed April 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 INVENTOR 7W/144mm M.` D/A L YNA 5 BY w Y ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1944. E. M. DIALYNAS PNEUMATIC OR CUSHIO ARCH SUPPORT FOR SHOES Filed April 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [MMA/VUM A40/A1 )WAS CAA/ ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 26, 1944 milionario 'on CUSHION ARCH surroa'r Foa SHOES l Emmanuel M.y Dialynas, Canton, Ohio Application April 17, 1943, Serial No. 483,384

(Cl. Sii-8.5)

.15 Claims.

This invention relates to shoes, and constitutes an improvement over that set forth in my copending application, Serial Number 463,235, filed shoes are Worn, so that the shoe which had been worn on the right foot may be used for ythe left foot.` The advantages inherent in the use of .these shoes are clearly set forth in said co-pendlng application to which reference may be had.

The primary object of this invention is to provide the pair of shoes, each with a built in arch support which comprises a flexible metallic plate support having afxed thereto a pair of `juxta posed inflatable air bladdersdisposed oneon each side of the longitudinal center line of the shoe, So that for the shoe to be worn `on the left foot, the air bladder on the right side of the arch support therein is inflated, and for the shoe to be worn on the right foot the air bladder on the left side of the arch support thereof is-inflated; and when the shoes become worn and it is desired to change them, i. e., from left to right and right to left, au that isnecessary is to tenete the air bladders `of the arch support of each shoe and to inflate thecomplemental air bladder thereof, thereby providing in each of the shoes as interchanged a properly positioned arch support for the foot.V I

' Another object of this invention isto so `design the arch support that the exiblemetallic plate support is `adapted to be engaged by the arch of the foot, the air bladders being disposed between the .metallic plate support and the shoe, and when one or the other is inflated, the same will ex the metallic plate upwardly so as to .conform in contour with the arch of the foot. p I

A further object of this invention is to provide the air bladders of each arch support with a Stem and air valve suitably built in and affixed to the side walls of the shoe whereby to be accessible and at the same time free of contact withthe foot.

A` still further `object of this invention is to provide strong, durable and inexpensive shoesv of the character described which shall be comfortable to wear, attractive in appearance, and

yet practical and efficient to a high degree.

and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed,

it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made Within thev scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invennon.

A practical embodiment of the invention is i1- lustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- 1n:

Figure l is a plan view with parts broken away of the improvement in shoes Showing the improved arch-support therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2.2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail Sectional view taken on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a partial plan View similar to Vthat of Figure 1 of a modified form arch support in a shoe.

Figure 6 is apartial sidev elevational view of the shoe of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional View taken on line 'I'.l of Figure 6.

Figure 8 iS a detail sectional View similar to that of Figure 1 showing a modied form of valve guard.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, II) designates a shoe embodying the invention. The shoe I0 comprises a Vsole II and a heel 12, the Shoe further including an Ainner sole I3. Attached to the sole II is the shoe upper I5. It will Vbe noted that the sole Ii as well as the innersole I3 are symmetrical about a longitudinal bisecting line; thus, if a line isdrawn on the middle of the Sole through the heel to the toe, both halves ofthe sole are exactly the same, this being also true of the heel portion, arch portion or tceportion of theshoe. This type of Shoe which is describedin my cowpending application, requires a removable and changeable arch support in order to adapt the same Ashoe to be worn either on the right foot or the left foot. In the shoes as shown in said co-pending application, when a person buys a pair of the same, he receives two exactly similar shoes, such as I0, and a pair of removableright foot and left foot arch supports.` Thus, in the Shoe to be initially worn on the left foot "he places the left foot arch support, andl in the other shoe the right foot arch support. When the shoes are worn down and interchanged from right to left and left to right, the arch supports are correspondingly changed.

The invention as will be hereinafter described obviates this changing of arch supports and at the same time provides an improved cushion type of arch-support.

l The improved type of cushion arch support is indicated generally by the reference character II and comprises a normally flat, thin flexible metal plate I8 and a pair of inflatable air bladders I9 and 28. The metal plate I8 is of heart shaped oval form symmetrical about its major axis and is placed in the shoe with its apex portion directed toward the heel as clearly shown in Figure 1. Preferably the metal plate I8 at its greatest width is of a dimension such as to extend substantially from side wall to side wall of the shoe when placed in the shoe. The

metal plate I8 defines on each side of its major.l

axis a flexible wing section 2| and 22, the plate I8 being secured to the shoe along said major axis by the nails or rivets 23. As shown in Figure 1 it will be seen that the metal plate I8 extends `substantially the full length of `the arch portion of the shoe vand is held in place by th nails or rivets 23. Y l

The inflatable air bladders I9 and 20 are identical,4 are of oval form and'ilat when deflated, and are made of rubber or other suitable elastic material. Formed integral with a medial edge portion of each bladder rI9 and 20 is a at valve stem I9a and 20a, respectively, each valve stem being provided at its free end with an air valve 25; The air bladders I9 and 2D are secured each to' the underside of the plate wing sections 2| and 22, respectively, as by cementing, vulcanization or other suitable means; and in symmetrical laterally opposed relation with the valve stems I9a and 20a extending beyond the side edges of said wing sections and disposed in substantially transverse alignment. I

The complete arch support II is `placed within the shoe I at the arch` portion thereof yand is secured to the sole by the longitudinal rowof nails or rivets 23. Any suitable means may be utilized for supporting the valve stems of the air bladders on the side walls of the shoe. As the valve stems -I9a and 28a-are of flat formation they may be placed inside .of the lining of the shoe or they may be encased in a separate lining such -as 26, see Figure 4, to be secured in any desired manner to the side wall of the shoe. Preferably the free ends of the, valve stems are directed outwardly from the upper edge of the side walls of the shoe,'see Figure 3, so that the valves 25 will extend away from the foot. Placed over the arch support I'I is the conventional inner sole I3, although in some instances it may be desirable t0 place the arch support over the inner sole I3. y A

From the above description of the shoe and arch support it is apparent that if the shoe, see Figure 1, is to beworn on the right foot, the left air bladder 20 is inflated, see Figure 3, which will result in anupward flexure of the wing section 22 of the metal plate I8. By virtue of the pressure exerted by the foot and the resilient action of the air bladder the wing section 22 will be flexed into conformity with the arch of the foot, providing with the inflated bladder a cushioned arch support. In a like manner the air bladder I3 of the other shoe is inflated to provide a cushioned arch support for the left foot. After becoming worn the shoes may be changed vfrom right to left and left to right, this being effected-by the simple expedient of deflating the air bladders of the shoes as originally worn and inilating the complemental air bladder of each arch support whereby to adapt each shoe for use on the opposite foot. 1

In some instances it may be desirable to have the arch support I1 removable from the shoe in which case the plate I8 may be formed with a heel extension to be engaged by the heel of thelv foot to thereby prevent longitudinal movement of the arch support within the shoe.

Further the air bladders I9 and 20 may be replaced -by a, single sponge rubber insert adapted to be moved from beneath one wing section to beneath the other wing section to adapt the shoe for use either on the right or left foot.

In the modification of arch support 29 shown I8 is replaced with a circular plate 3U secured 4along a diameter as by the nails or rivets 3I to the sole of the shoe. Each wing section 32 vand 33 of the plate 30 is provided with an inflatable air bladder 34,and 35 identical in all respects with the air bladders I9 and 20, including valve stems 34a and 35a, respectively, and valves 36. The arch support 29 functions in identically the same manner as the arch support I1 of Figure l. Referring to Figures 6 and 7 it will benoted that Vthe side walls of the shoe are each provided with an elongated opening preferably formed by an elongated grommet 38 through which the free end of a valve stem extends, the, oval opening f permitting slight movementof the valve stem proper position at all times by virtue of the fact L'It that the valve 36 is of greater widththan the width of the oval opening.

In Figure 8 the valve stem `Ill) of the air bladder 4IV is located inside of the lining of the shoe and the free end thereof extends upwardly beyond the edge of the shoe. Fixed to said free end is a valve 42. To prevent chaflng of the valve 42 against the foot there is provided a U-shaped guard 43 preferably Ysewn to the shoe as at 44, through the sides 'of which access to the valve 42 may be had to inflate or deflate the bladder.

vHaving thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In combination with a shoe of the character' described; an arch support comprising a vflexible plate secured to the sole of. the shoe along a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; a pair of iniiatableair bladders arranged beneath said plate; whereby upon inflation of one of said air bladders there will be provided avcushioned arch support adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air lbladder selected for iniiation.

2. In combination witha shoe of the character described; an arch support comprising a flexible oval shaped metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; a pair of laterally disposed inflatable air bladders secured to said metallic plate and arranged beneath said plate; .whereby upon inflation of one of said air bladders there will be provided a cushioned arch support adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladder selected for inflation. Y

3. In` combination with a shoe of the character described; an arch support comprising a flexible metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; a pair of inflatable air bladders on opposite sides of said line and arranged beneath said plate and adjacent the side walls of said shoe; valve means connected to each bladder disposed exteriorly of said shoe; whereby upon inflation of a selected oneof said air bladders there will be provided a `cushioned arch support'I adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladderselected for inflation, and the portion of the metallic plate engaged by the inflated bladder being flexed to conform to the arch of the foot on which the shoe is Worn.

4. In combination with a shoe of the character described; van arch support comprising a flexible metallic plate secured to the Sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; a pair of inflatable air bladders each secured to said plate on opposite sides of said line and arranged beneath said plate and adjacent the side Walls of said shoe; a valve stem and valve means connected to each bladder with the valve means disposed exteriorly of said shoe; whereby upon inflation of a selected one of said air bladders there will be provided a cushioned arch support adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladder` selected for inflation; and the portion of the metallic plate engaged by the inflated bladder being flexed to conform to the arch of the foot on which the shoe is worn.

5. In combination with a shoe ofthe characterv described; an arch support comprising a normally flat flexible metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; said plate defining a pair of like Wing sections each extending to a side Wall of said shoe; an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside of each plate wing section; a valve stern connected to each bladder and fitted to the side wall adjacent thereto; valve means on the free end of said valve stem arranged exteriorly of said shoe and free of contact with the foot; said plate wing sections and bladders being so constructed and arranged that upon inflation of a selected one of said air bladders there Will be provided a cushioned arch support adapting the` shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladder selected for inilation, the plate wing section associated with the inflated bladder being flexed to conform to the arch of the foot on which the shoe is worn.

6. In combination With a shoe of the character described; an arch support comprising a normally flat symmetrical heart-shaped flexible -metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the major axis thereof and the longitudinal center line of said shoe and said plate arranged with the apex end thereof directed toward the heel of said shoe; said plate defining a pair of like wing sections each extending to a side Wall of said shoe; an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside of each plate wing section; a valve stem connected to each bladder and fitted to the side wall adjacent thereto; valve means on the free end of said valve stem arranged exteriorly of said shoe and free of contact with the foot; said plate Wing sections and bladders being so constructed and 'arranged that upon inflation of a selected oneof said air bladders i there will be provided a cushioned arch support fiat circular flexible metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding ywith the diameter thereof and longitudinal center line of -said shoe; said plate defining a pair of like wing sections each extending to a side Wall of said shoe; an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside of each plate Wing section; a valve stem connected to each bladder and fitted to the side wall adjacent thereto; valve means on the free end of said valve stem arranged exteriorly ofsaid shoe and free of contact with the foot; said plate Wing sections and bladders being so constructed and arranged that upon inationof a selected one of said air bladders there Will be provided a cushioned arch support adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladder selected for inflation, the plate Wing section associated with the inflated bladder being flexed to conform to the arch of the foot on which the shoe is worn.

8. Incombination with a shoe of the character described; an arch support comprising a normally flat flexible metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; said plate defining. a pair of like Wing sections 'each extending to a side wall of said shoe; an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside oi each plate'wing Section; a valve stem connected to each bladder and fitted to the side Wall adjacent thereto; opposed elongated openings formed in the side Walls of the shoe through each of which a free end of a stem extends; valve means on the free end of said valve stem arranged exteriorly of said shoe and free of contact with the foot; said plate Wing sections and bladders being so constructed and arranged that upon inflation of a selected one of said air bladders there will be provided a cushioned arch support adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladder selected for inflation, the plate Wing section associated with the inflated bladder being flexed to conform to the arch of the foot on which the shoe is Worn.

9. In combination with a shoe of the character described; an arch support comprising a normally flat symmetrical heart-shaped flexible metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoe along a line coinciding with the major axis thereof and the longitudinal center line of said shoe and said plate arranged with the apex end thereof directed to the heel of the shoe; said plate defining a pair of like Wing sections each extending to a side Wall of said shoe; an inatableair bladder secured to the underside of each plate Wing section; a valve stem connected to each bladder' and fitted to the side wall adjacent thereto; opposed elongated openings formed in the side Walls of the shoe through each of which a free end of a stern extends; valve means on the free endv of said valve stem arranged exteriorly of said shoe and free of contact with the foot; said' plate wing sections and bladders being so constructed and arranged that upon inflation of a selected 'ible circular metallic plate secured to the sole of the shoealong a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line oflsaid shoe; a pair of laterally disposed inflatable air Ibladders secured to said metallic plate and arranged beneath said plate; whereby upon inflation of one of said air bladders there will be provided a cushioned arch support adapting' the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on the air bladder selected for inflation.

11. In combination with a shoe of the charac ter described; an arch support comprising a flex'- ible plate `symmetrical about an axis thereof and .secured along said axis to the sole of the shoe on a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; and inflatable cushion means disposed beneath said plate, said means being selectively inflatable on either side of said axis to provide a cushioned arch support adapting the shoe lfor use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on which side the cushion means is located.

12. In combination with a shoe of the character described; an arch support comprising a flexible normally at metallic plate symmetrical about an axis thereof and secured along said axis to the sole of the shoe on a line coinciding with the longitudinal center line of said shoe; and a pair of separate pneumatic cushion means disposed beneath said plate and each interchangeable from inflated to deflated condition from one lside thereof on one side of said axis to the other side to provide a cushioned arch support adapting the shoe for use either on the right foot or the left foot depending on Which side the inilated cushion means is located.

13. An arch support comprising a flexible flat metallic plate symmetrical about an axis co-extensive with the longitudinal extent of a shoe and defining like lateral wing sections, an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside of each Wing section, yeach bladder having a valve stem communicating therewith, and a valve provided on the free end of each valve stem.l

14. An arch support for a shoe comprising a heart-shaped flexible normally flat metallic plate defining a wing section on each side of its major axis, an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside of each Wing section, a flexible valve stem for each bladder, and avalve provlded on the free end of each valve stem.

l5. An arch support for a shoe comprising a circular flexible normally fiat metallic plate dening a Wing section on each side of a diameter thereof, an inflatable air bladder secured to the underside of each -wing section, a flexible valve stem for each bladder, and a valve provided on the free end of each valve stem.

EMMANUEL M. DIALYNAS. 

